Cape Town vs Lisbon vs New York City vs Porto vs Sofia

Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 4,617,560 517,000 8,323,340 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese English (de facto) Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Very high Very High High
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September, October April - June, September - November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1549 $1984 $5431 $1759 $1289
Rent $618 $965 $2891 $717 $567
Groceries $129 $136 $383 $148 $10
Dining out $269 $271 $656 $280 $227
Cafe $32 $37 $72 $45 $27
Coworking space $151 $164 $326 $96 $140
Mobile internet $27 $24 $45 $21 $10
Public transportation $55 $63 $220 $95 $30
Taxis $21 $27 $78 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $18 $30 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $19 $29 $100 $45 $18
Museums and sights $15 $24 $74 $24 $12
Nightlife $43 $47 $195 $66 $82
Gym $36 $65 $55 $56 $23
Yoga $56 $65 $197 $82 $62
Massage $30 $50 $109 $48 $29
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom Vodafone AT&T, Verizon Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Lyft Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow